Corporate Lifestyle Simulator
- March 12, 2014
- Dolphin Barn
- 2h median play time
Corporate Lifestyle Simulator is an isometric action game with pixel art graphics and chiptunes music. Players must battle through corporate architecture and fight against buzzword-spewing middle managers using office supplies as weapons. The game encourages players to rebel against tyranny and liberate their coworkers from oppressive forces. Overall, it's a destructive and cathartic experience that lets players take out their frustrations on the corporate world.
Reviews
- The game features a fantastic soundtrack that many players find enjoyable and worth the price alone.
- Gameplay is simple yet satisfying, allowing players to destroy office environments and defeat zombies with a variety of weapons.
- The humor and absurdity of the game provide a fun and lighthearted experience, making it a good stress reliever for those in corporate jobs.
- The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and lacks depth, with many weapons feeling similar and the AI being poorly designed.
- Technical issues such as bugs, crashes, and poor voice acting detract from the overall experience.
- The game is short, with many players feeling it doesn't offer enough content for the price, especially at full price.
- music109 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting it as the standout feature that enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as amazing, fitting perfectly with the gameplay, and is often considered worth the price of the game itself. Fans of electronic and chiptune music particularly appreciate the energetic and engaging compositions that accompany the game's humorous and chaotic atmosphere.
“The soundtrack alone is worth the price!”
“Absolutely brilliant soundtrack, awesome sarcastic look at corporate culture, overwhelming level of violence, and finally it even has color graphics!”
“This is the type of game that you can just pick up and play at any time of day, it's great fun, there are some comedic moments and the soundtrack is the best I have ever heard and is totally what makes this game so good.”
“The game starts up invisible; I can hear music but there is nothing at all on the screen.”
“The gameplay is repetitive but the cutscenes and music kind of balance it out.”
“If you're really willing to shell out $5 to fulfill some fetish of yours, just buy the soundtrack available on Bandcamp.”
- humor63 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining, particularly in the voiceovers and cutscenes, while others criticize it as juvenile or poorly delivered. Many appreciate the witty one-liners and humorous premise, especially in the context of a zombie-themed office setting, but some feel that the humor doesn't consistently land or is overshadowed by technical issues. Overall, the game offers a light-hearted experience that can be enjoyable for those who appreciate its quirky style, despite its uneven comedic execution.
“The office setting, soundtrack, and humor of this game are really enjoyable for the 2 hours the game lasts.”
“The main character is a meme-spouting man with an interest in a girl he saved, yet he is realistically awkward and flubs his memes enough that the humor comes through strong.”
“This game is hilarious and just a fun game to play alone and have a great time.”
“The humor in the game ranges from painfully unfunny and cringe-worthy in the cutscenes, which aren't even 'ironically' bad; it seems the developers just can't write humor in the context of dialogue.”
“While there are a few genuinely clever jokes scattered throughout the game, the overall comedic execution falls flat.”
“The attempts at humor often miss the mark, leaving players feeling more awkward than amused.”
- gameplay40 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simple, responsive mechanics and a variety of weapons, providing a satisfying experience despite its repetitive nature across levels. While the addition of destructible objects and humorous cutscenes adds some uniqueness, many players feel the gameplay lacks depth and can become monotonous over time. Overall, it offers enjoyable, fast-paced action with a fun soundtrack, but may require players to seek additional challenges to maintain engagement.
“The addition of destructible objects and their occasional use in gameplay is a nice touch that sets it apart from yet another zombie game.”
“If the controls or presentation were lacking in any significant way, that simple premise wouldn't hold up, but the gameplay itself is phenomenally smooth, responsive, and satisfying.”
“One of the biggest surprises I ever experienced on Steam, extremely entertaining in every possible way, with one of the best soundtracks I ever heard, simple yet satisfying gameplay, smash all the zombies, destroy everything, cool boss fights, and cheesy, very funny, self-aware cutscenes.”
“Far from riveting gameplay.”
“The gameplay is the same for each level with a few levels having slight variations like don't smash too much stuff or extinguish some fires: kill zombies (apart from one level and a few bosses), and sometimes reach the exit.”
“Throughout the 27 levels, which include boss fights, the gameplay stays the same: hold left-mouse button to win.”
- story25 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is a lighthearted and humorous satire of the corporate world, featuring a mix of creativity and absurdity, though it is relatively short and lacks depth. Players can engage in a story mode with 27 levels, including memorable boss fights, but the overall narrative experience is often overshadowed by gameplay issues and inconsistent delivery. While some find the humor enjoyable, others feel the story is poorly executed and not particularly engaging, leading to mixed reviews on its effectiveness.
“The story is probably the best part about it as it is quite funny and is a really good satire of the corporate world.”
“The story is funny.”
“What ensues is a very simple isometric shoot-em-beat-em-up, with a very funny storyline.”
“Even if you put the ridiculous story aside, they're not zombies, they're "assholes" apparently. The game suffers a lot from lags, and if you're playing with a mouse and a keyboard, be prepared to see your cursor lagging and delaying a lot before moving.”
“I tried very hard to get into the storyline; I came to a point where I gave up and just spam-clicked through the cutscenes.”
“The only thing I disliked about this game was the storyline and dialogue.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are primarily characterized by a nostalgic 8-bit pixel art style that resonates well with its humorous and violent themes, effectively capturing the absurdity of corporate life. While some players appreciate the simplicity and charm of the visuals, others criticize technical issues and camera angles that detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics suit the game's concept, though there are calls for slight improvements and contemporary enhancements.
“The graphics are nostalgic, gameplay is fun, great music, and the jokes are great!”
“The game is a fun 27-level zombie smash set in the corporate world with old school graphics.”
“The art style is definitely the trendy indie-game 2D sprite variety, but it works here because the screen is usually full of enemies.”
“Bought this sack of digital garbage during the winter sale, booted it up yesterday and found out that none of the graphics load.”
“Graphics = straight 8-bit (wish they add a bit of contemporary graphic here)”
“Don't be fooled by the corny graphics.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the option to select levels for quick sessions and enjoy the endless mode, others feel that the missions are too short and lack depth, making the game not worth its full price.
“Its replayability lies in the fact that you can just select a level, and have a short mayhem session whenever you please.”
“Replayable = definitely, it's a fun game.”
“A bit expensive for what it offers, but it has good replayability with the endless mode.”
“Doesn't look like a lot of replay value in this game; not worth paying full price for.”
“Its replayability lies in the fact that you can just select a level and have a short mayhem session whenever you please.”
“A quick game with not much replay value, but worth the 5 bucks it costs.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be quite unstable, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, and it has not received updates since 2014. Users have noted that the AI and other elements can be particularly problematic at times.
“Really buggy and hasn't been updated since 2014.”
“Buggy AI.”
“It's a little buggy in parts sometimes, not going to lie.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received high praise, with users rating it a perfect 10/10, indicating exceptional performance and efficiency.
“10/10, would performance review again.”
“The optimization in this game is top-notch, making every session smooth and enjoyable.”
“I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization; it really enhances the overall gameplay experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is praised for its ability to evoke hope and positivity within the video game industry, blending wholesome anti-social themes with over-the-top irony and an engaging electro house soundtrack.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express that the grinding aspect of the game is engaging and authentic, likening it to a true farming experience rather than just a simulation.